Courtesy Of the Ontario College Of Trades.

Introduction to Membership

The Ontario College of Trades’ Classes of Members and Registration Regulation (O.Reg. 321/12) was filed on October 30, 2012, under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009. This regulation is important for the College because it outlines what the membership structure will be and how individuals can register to become members. The regulation came into effect on January 1, 2013.

The process for developing the regulation included a forty-five day public consultation period that ended on April 12, 2012 as well as review of the regulation by the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and approval of the regulation by the government of Ontario.

The regulation describes five classes of College membership:

• Apprentices Class
• Journeyperson Candidates Class
• Tradespersons Class
• Journeypersons Class
• Employers / Sponsors Class

How did things look before April 8, 2013?

• The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities was the regulatory body for more than 150 skilled trades in Ontario
• 22 of these trades are classified as compulsory or restricted
• In order to work in these 22 trades, an individual must either be registered as an apprentice in an apprenticeship program or hold a certificate of qualification issued by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
• Practicing in these 22 trades without meeting the requirements above is against the law and is subject to fines and penalties

What has changed?

The College has started to accept members on April 8, 2013, following a proclamation by the Ontario Lieutenant Governor-in-Council of provisions in the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009. Since this date, there has been a number of changes to the trades system in Ontario:

• Membership in the College is required for any individuals wishing to engage in apprenticeship programs or hold a Certificates of Qualification (C of Q).
• Practicing in a compulsory trade requires membership in the College.
• The Registrar, on behalf of the College, has become the official body to review, assess, and grant registration to applicants through the issuance of statements of membership or Certificates of Qualification, as appropriate.
• Individuals working in voluntary trades can choose to become members of the College.

For more information on the new trade legislative framework in Ontario, click here.

What are the benefits of membership?

The College of Trades was created to be an industry-driven organization that promotes the trades and protects the public interest by regulating the trades in Ontario. As the first of its kind in North America, the College puts decision-making power in the hands of skilled tradespeople. An important part of this is the membership of people currently working in trades across the province.

There are many benefits to becoming a member of the College:

• Voice – Membership allows you to be represented and heard at decision-making tables.
• Ownership – Being a member means you are part of a professional, self-regulating body that defines scopes of practice, training and certification standards for the skilled trades in Ontario.
• Status – Once you are a member, you will be officially recognized as either a skilled trades professional-in-training, as someone with professional certification, or as an official employer of certified workers.
• Protection – You will be protected by stronger enforcement to maintain the integrity of Ontario’s trades system.
• Productivity – Employers will have access to a skilled and certified workforce that meets the needs of Ontario’s economy.

We understand that membership in the College of Trades represents a significant change for the skilled trades system in Ontario.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us toll-free at 1-855-299-0028 or by email at info@collegeoftrades.ca.

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